On 11 April 1897, a child was born at 837 Montford Avenue in Baltimore City, Maryland. The child was a white male, the second child born to Benetta McCordick, who was born in Baltimore, maiden name Magill. The father was Wm F. McCordick, a printer, born in Baltimore. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Certificate of Birth 82359.]

1900 U.S. Census, Baltimore City, Maryland
Enumeration District 121, Sheet 7, 9th Ward
1718 Bradford
Dwelling 145, Household 152
McCordick, William J, head, white, male, born 14 April 1875, age 25, married 5 years, born in Maryland, both parents born in Ireland, occupation printer, 0 months unemployed during past year, can read and write, speaks English, rents house
McCordick, Bennetta, wife, white, female, born 8 July 1871, age 28, married 5 years, has had 2 children [may have said 3; there is a blot] of whom 2 are living, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, can read and write, speaks English
McCordick, William M, son, white, male, born 11 April 1897, age 3, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland
McCordick, Annie E, daughter, white, female, born 28 December 1899, age 5/12, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland
McGill, William, boarder, white, male, born 12 April 1856, age 44, single, born in Maryland, both parents born in Maryland, occupation shoe burnisher, 0 months unemployed during past year, can read and write, speaks English

An article in The Sun (Baltimore) stated:
One Dead, Two Dying
Awful Result of Midnight Fire In Northeast Baltimore
MRS. McCORDIC AND CHILDREN
Were Asleep In Rooms At 1014 North Washington Street, When Flames Cut Off Escape.
Mrs. Benetta McCordic was fatally burned; Annie McCordic, aged 4 years, was burned to death, and another child, William McCordic, aged 6 years, is not expected to live, as the result of a fire which destroyed the grocery and dwelling of William H. Greaves, 1014 North Washington street, at about midnight.
The McCordic family occupied the third floor of the house, and their escape had been cut off, the interior of the house downstairs being like a furnace when the firemen arrived and set about the work of rescue.
The fire was discovered by Mr. Soloman P. Loewenstein, 1002 North Washington street, shortly before midnight. It had gotten a good start and was burning fiercely. Mr. Greaves was not at home.
When No. 5 Truck Company arrived Captain Emerson and his men raised a ladder, but it was too short, and a second one had to be put up. Ropes were used to lower Mrs. McCordic and her children from the windows, and they were hurried to St. Joseph’s Hospital. The little girl died very soon, however, and it was stated that the mother could live but a short time, and that the boy was also fatally burned.
The origin of the fire is not understood. Mr. Greaves said that he had had some gasoline in the store, but had sold it all. The damage is estimated at about $2,000. It was stated last night that it is covered by insurance.
The Sun (Baltimore), 13 March 1905, page 6.]

On 14 March 1905 at 6 A.M., William McCordick died at St. Joseph Hospital in Baltimore City. His residence was 1014 N. Washington Street, and he had lived in Baltimore the duration of his life. He was a single white male, born 11 April 1897 in Baltimore. Died at age 7 years, 10 months. His father was Wm J McCordick, born in Baltimore, and his mother was Beneta Magill, born in Baltimore. No occupation. Statements provided by Harry Magill of 1930 E. Chase. Cause of death was “Burns of body (Accidental)”. Attending physician was Fredia[?] Caruther[?]. Buried on 15 March 1905 at the Old Methodist cemetery on Phila Road. Undertaker was George Schilling of 1126 E. Monument Street. [Baltimore City, Maryland, Certificate of Death B-77446.]

A 14 March 1905 brief in The Baltimore Sun in the City and Suburban news column stated:
Mrs. Bennatta McCordick and her 5-year-old daughter died from burns received in the midnight fire at 1014 Washington street, and William McCordick, aged 7 years, is not expected to live.
[The Baltimore Sun, 14 March 1905, page 1.]

A 14 March 1905 article in The Baltimore Sun stated:
HELD AS IN A FURNACE
Mrs. McCordick And Both Children Fatally Burned.
ESCAPE CUT OFF BY FLAMES
Mother Dies Some Hours After Her Little Daughter — Boy’s Death Is Expected At Any Time.
As a result of the midnight fire at 1014 North Washington street, as told in THE SUN yesterday, a mother and child are dead and another child is dying at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The dead are:
MRS. BENNATTA MCCORDICK, 30 years old,
ANNIE MCCORDICK, 5 years old.
The death of the other victim, William McCordick, 7 years old, is expected at any time by the physicians.
The building, which is a three-story structure, was occupied on the first floor by Mr. Wm. Greaves as a grocery and provision store. Mr. Greaves’ apartments were on the second floor, which he also partly used as a storeroom. The McCordicks occupied the two rooms on the third floor.
The origin of the fire is not known, but the flames were detected shooting from the window of the store by Mr. Solomon P. Lowenstein, 1002 North Washington street. He rushed to a nearby box and sounded an alarm. By the time the fire department arrive the store was enveloped in flames, which were rapidly leaping up the front of the house.
The clamor of the engines aroused the sleeping occupants of the neighborhood and their cries were said to have awakened Mrs. McCordick, who was asleep in the front room. She was seen to appear at the window and beckon for the firemen to come to her assistance.
Chief Emerich and Captain Emerson, of No. 5 Truck Company, leading a party of firemen, placed ladders to the window. They hurriedly ascended and on reaching the sill Captain Emerson leaped into the room, which was suffocating with heat and smoke. The mother and two children were found in an unconscious condition crouched against a chair near the side of the bed.
Ropes were used to lower them from the windows, and in the meantime the ambulance of the Northeastern district had been summoned. Before St. Joseph’s Hospital was reached Annie McCordick died. Mrs. McCordick died shortly after 6 o’clock yesterday morning without regaining consciousness. Coroner Caruthers gave a certificate of accidental death.
After the rescue the wildest excitement prevailed in the neighborhood and the work of the firemen was witnessed by a large crowd of half-clad men and women. The flames were soon extinguished. The damage to the stock in the store is estimated at $800, of which $400 is covered by insurance The damage to the property, which is owned by Mr. C. W. Hurst, is estimated at $1,000.
Investigation showed that the flames had crept up the stairway to the third floor, but scarcely got into any of the rooms. From this it is supposed that Mrs. McCordick, with her two children, attempted to descend, but was driven back by the flames. All three were terribly burned from the shoulders down.
William McCordick, the dead woman’s husband, disappeared from his home about three years ago, and nothing has been heard from him since. It is, believed, however, that he is at work in Philadelphia. Mrs. McCordick maintained herself and two children by sewing. She attended services at Holy Redeemer Independent Mothodiest Episcopal Church on Sunday evening and returned home about 10 P. M. For a time it was thought that Mr. Greaves as asleep in the house, but he did not return home until after the fire.
Mrs. McCordick is survived by three brothers and two sisters — Messrs. William H., Joseph and Andrew Magill, Mrs. Jos. Briscoe and Miss Mollie Magill.
The funeral of the victims will take place tomorrow afternoon from the home of Mrs. John E. C. Briscoe, 1210 North Bond street, a sister of Mrs. McCordick. Services will be conducted by Rev. J. K. Snyder, pastor of the Holy Redeemer Independent Methodist Church. The bodies will be interred side by side in the Old Methodist Cemetery, on the Philadelphia road. Undertakers Geo. Schilling & Son have charge of the arrangements.
[The Baltimore Sun, 14 March 1905, page 7.]

An article in The Sun (Baltimore) stated:
THIRD FIRE VICTIM DIES
Little William McCordick Follows Mother And Sister
William McCordick, 7 years old, the last of the three victims of the fire in the dwelling at 1014 North Washington street last Sunday night, died early yesterday morning at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
The remains of Mrs. McCordick and her two children rest in the parlour of Mrs. John E. C. Briscoe, 1210 Bond street, a sister of the dead woman, and yesterday a stream of relatives and friends surrounded the coffins. The funerals will take place this afternoon at 2 o’clock. Services will be conducted by Rev. J. K. Snyder, Methodist Episcopal Church, which Mrs. McCordick and her children attended a few hours before the tragedy. The interments will be in the same grave in the old Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, on the Philadelphia road.
[The Sun (Baltimore), 15 March 1905, page 12.]